White House using base-closure process to extort Nelson’s vote on ObamaCare? (Outrageous)

UPDATE: Both the White House and Senator Nelson's aide are denying this, however, we found this from John Fund of the Wall Street Journal to be interesting. It shows the high stakes for Nelson and how he may parlay this into monetary support for his pet project which we consider being For Sale:

John Fund in his Wall Street Journal article posted around noon today:

All eyes will turn next to Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson to provide the critical 60th vote to break a Senate filibuster and allow a floor vote. Mr. Nelson's major concern is that the bill doesn't do enough to prevent taxpayer money from going to insurance plans that cover abortions. Majority Leader Reid is scrambling to accommodate him.

Mr. Nelson also has other concerns that Mr. Reid and the White House will likely try to assuage. InsideHealthPolicy.com reported last month that the Nebraska senator "is keen on seeing construction of a new physician owned hospital in Bellevue, Nebraska completed." Current versions of the health care bill include federal mandates that could jeopardize the completion of many physician-owned hospitals.

The hospital is located south of Omaha, adjacent to Offutt Air Force Base, which is another major issue for Senator Nelson. Offutt's operations pump over $2 billion a year into Nebraska's economy and account for more than 10,000 jobs, but earlier this year the base was denied two new commands in an Air Force reorganization program, despite scoring well on graded Air Force evaluations. In June, Mr. Nelson called the process by which Offutt lost out "a charade" and no doubt would welcome assurances that Offutt will not be on the chopping block when the federal base-closing commission likely reconvenes in 2013.

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If Obama really is threatening Sen Nelson (D-NE) to close Offutt AFB someone needs to tell him that the BRAC Commission Final Report was submitted to the President on September 8, 2005. That completed the last round of Base Closings. If Obama wants another BRAC, it will have to make it through Congress and that is highly unlikely to happen.

Our family was affected by the BRAC closing of Kelly AFB in the 90's so reading this made me furious that a President would use the BRAC to try and get someone to vote his way on healthcare. This is not Chicago. It is a long tedious process that leaves families worried about the outcome for months and months. For Obama to use that as a club on Nelson is despicable and not worthy of someone who is President.

We would recommend that Senator Nelson immediately switch parties since he votes a lot of times with Republicans and tell Obama to shove it. Only way you can deal with someone like Obama.

If true that Obama threaten to close Offutt which is a base that cannot be closed for security purposes, then Obama has way overstepped as President and as far as we are concerned Congress needs to start looking into his tactics and launch an immediate investigation by the House of Representatives. With Pelosi in charge we are not holding our breath that she will follow the Constitution.

Everyone need to remember that Offutt was the destination for Pres Bush on 9/11 for a reason. Most secure facilities on a regular base and one that should be left totally alone except to strengthen.

Americans deserve an honest answer whether Obama threatened to close Offutt and we need it immediately. This Country is not a dictatorship no matter how much Obama wants to make it one. We will keep you advised.

White House using base-closure process to extort Nelson’s vote on ObamaCare?posted at 1:36 pm on December 15, 2009 by Ed Morrissey Share on Facebook printer-friendly

How desperate has the White House become to get anything passed under the name of health-care reform? According to Michael Goldfarb’s source on Capitol Hill, the Obama administration has targeted the last remaining Democratic holdout, at least among moderates — and they’re willing to damage national security to extort his support. The White House has threatened Ben Nelson (D-NE) with the closure of Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska if he opposes Reid’s latest version, despite its status as the headquarters of US Strategic Command:

According to a Senate aide, the White House is now threatening to put Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force Base on the BRAC list if Nelson doesn’t fall into line.
Offutt Air Force Base employs some 10,000 military and federal employees in Southeastern Nebraska. As our source put it, this is a “naked effort by Rahm Emanuel and the White House to extort Nelson’s vote.” They are “threatening to close a base vital to national security for what?” asked the Senate staffer.

Indeed, Offutt is the headquarters for US Strategic Command, the successor to Strategic Air Command, and not by accident. STRATCOM was located in the middle of the country for strategic reasons. Its closure would be a massive blow to the economy of the state of Nebraska, but it would also be another example of this administration playing politics with our national security.

Excerpt: Read More at Hot Air